This carrot-ginger dressing has sharp undertones, is well rounded and provides a nice texture to sauteed dishes. The combination of carrots and dates provide a refreshing sweetness that I am very much drawn to. There is a perfect balance between the confident flavour of the lemon juice, the sharpness of rice vinegar and the strength of the tamari. Adding toasted sesame seeds at the end elevates the overall flavour profile and texture.

Whenever I have the option to consume vegetables raw as opposed to cooked I do. The sensitive nature of their nutrients makes these ingredients more potent and beneficial when consumed raw. Speaking of potency and raw emotions can we talk about Ellen Page's character in the film Hard Candy? She’s got such purpose.

I think Ellen Page is always well dressed. She’s usually wearing super casual attire. Think tomboy chic staples and loose fitting denim, both of which I personally cannot live without. For this post I didn’t select an image of her in her typical street wear because the colour composition of this image is more complementary with the carrot ginger dressing. And that’s what it’s all about, right?

Ingredients:

2 medium carrots

½ cup fresh water

2 tablespoons chopped peeled ginger

2 large Medjool dates

1 tablespoon sesame seeds (toasted)

2 tablespoons rice vinegar (not seasoned)

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

2 teaspoons wheat free tamari

2 teaspoons sesame oil

sea salt

Directions:

Puree the carrot and water in a blender until smooth. Add ginger, dates, rice vinegar, lemon juice, tamari, sesame oil and teaspoon salt; pulse until smooth. Pour into a glass jar and mix in sesame seeds. Use this dressing whenever you need a fresh kick of lively flavours. Perfect on warm brown rice, lightly sauteed kale or whatever your little heart desires.

I’m going to start this blog feature on a strong note. This dressing is polished. There is absolutely nothing boring about a creamy, colourful avocado lime dressing and this particular recipe is the one of the best. Avocados are a classic good for you food, so why not make them a staple for dressings and sauces?

Garlic, cilantro, and lime are all independently strong flavours, but when you add a touch of grape seed oil everything mellows out nicely. We've already established that avocados are magical ingredients, but combine them with honey and hot peppers and you're setting yourself up for a bright, spicy flavour fusion that will make you want to Instagram your lunch.

When I think about someone who is as sassy as this dressing only one person comes to mind -- Rihanna. Just look at our girl in this floral bucket hat. Riri is everything this dressing is trying to convey. She's bold, she's cute and she knows how to dress appropriately for many situations.

P.S. If you're feeling under the weather add extra honey to this mix. It’s an easy way to give your body simple nutrients so you can fight off colds!

Ingredients:

1 large ripe avocado

¼ cup grapeseed oil

1 handful fresh cilantro

2 hot peppers

2-3 cloves garlic

1 lime, juiced

1 tablespoon honey (maple syrup will work too)

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1/4 cup water

Directions:

Add all of the ingredients into a blender and blend until creamy. You can add more or less water to achieve the consistency you desire. I love this recipe because it doesn't call for a lot of oil yet the ingredients still bind nicely. This sauce has the ability to make a simple spinach salad really, really good.

There is a definite correlation between owning your personal style and being mindful about what foods you choose to nourish your body with. It’s almost undeniable; if you care enough to achieve a certain aesthetic with your outward appearance, you are probably conscious of what you consume. Over the past decade we have seen a steady shift in the general public’s attitude towards a more healthy way of life. Eating a predominantly plant-based diet is no longer only associated with fanatics, hippies or broke college students. Healthy living is finally becoming more accessible and acceptable. Folks from many different backgrounds are gravitating towards healthy foods without feeling obliged to adapt a completely new lifestyle. Now is a better time than ever to be proud of your healthy habits. Openly admitting that you are concerned about what you consume, and taking the time to consider how you present to the world is an honest approach. It’s true that we live in a predominantly narcissists and overtly selfie obsessed society but self love and self care are essential to living a healthy and productive existence.

Which brings me to my next point. Like most routines eating clean and looking fresh can become mundane over time. Not unlike the boring blazer I wear far too often, the novelty of a signature dish will diminish once it has been prepared seventeen times in a row. But there is a simple solution to this common problem. When William Cowper stated, “variety's the very spice of life, that gives it all it's flavour” he was talking about sexual partners but this logic can easily be applied to both style and food. These simple yet tasty dressing recipes will greatly improve basic salad, grain, and breakfast bowls without adding too much extra work to your life.

We know you don’t need to be convinced to maintain a diet rich in ingredients like; kale, avocado, broccoli, beetroot, quinoa, lentils, sweet potato, hemp seeds, etc. That goes without saying. However, some of us still need assistance when coming up with something other than Sriracha to drizzle over every meal. So, every week we will post an easy-to-follow recipe for a healthy, interesting, vegan dressing as well as an iconic well-dressed individual for your viewing pleasure. These substantial sauces will turn up your salads while adding some essential nutrients to your diet. Ideally you will take it upon yourself to recreate the feature recipe while dressed like our muse of the week -- but no pressure.